Is increasing VRAM finally worth it? I ran the numbers on my Windows 11 PC

## Summary
Also known as virtual memory, this resource management feature allows PC owners to use a portion of their device's storage drive as an extension of system memory. Virtual RAM is only a temporary solution for enhancing PCs with limited memory, not an outright replacement for physical RAM. Thrashing occurs when a computer spends more time moving data between the RAM and the storage drive, which can result in freezing, heavy lag, and poor performance. It functions like Windows virtual memory, temporarily moving data from RAM to the hard drive when physical memory is limited.

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Is increasing VRAM finally worth it? I ran the numbers on my Windows 11 PC
Virtual RAM can help boost PC performance when resources are scarce. While it can be useful, it's not a replacement for physical RAM.
Written by
Cesar Cadenas,
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
April 3, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. PT
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
Rising RAM prices have made upgrading your PC more expensive.
Virtual RAM is a less expensive way of boosting an older computer's performance.
Virtual RAM has limited use cases because it can't match the speed of physical RAM.
It's been a rough seven months or so for shoppers. Prices for RAM and PCs have surged to record levels, fueled in part by the
rise of generative AI
and broader economic turmoil. Because of the price shifts, upgrading your old computer -- or buying a new system -- is now more expensive than ever. There is some good news.
RAM prices have recently started to
drop, but only slightly; memory and hardware remain very expensive.
Also:
The best all-in-one computers of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
Affordability remains a major problem, though there is a solution, albeit a limited one
:
virtual RAM. Also known as virtual memory, this resource management feature allows PC owners to use a portion of their device's storage drive as an extension of system memory. As
Lenovo explains
, "it creates the illusion of a larger, continuous memory space", as if your computer has access to more resources.
It's a neat way to stretch your computer's memory past its limits. However, it comes with important caveats. Virtual RAM is only a temporary solution for enhancing PCs with limited memory, not an outright replacement for physical RAM.
Why is virtual memory not a true RAM alternative?
Virtual RAM just can't perform as well as physical RAM. It trades speed and responsiveness for extra resources. PC gaming brand
Corsair makes this point
, stating that even the fastest SSDs are "almost 10 times slower than RAM, and a hard drive is hundreds of times slower." Remember: RAM is designed for high-speed, temporary storage of active data, while SSDs and hard drives are built for long-term storage.
To put this into perspective, let's look at a real-world example using my PC and compare the speed of my 32GB of DDR4 RAM to the speed of my PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
You can find the theoretical maximum bandwidth of your memory by multiplying the MT/s value by the number of bytes sent per transfer.
Also:
3 ways I safely retire every Windows PC - and why you shouldn't skip these critical steps
My desktop's RAM runs at 2400 MT/s (megatransfers per second) and has two 64-bit channels (8 bytes). So, 2,400 MT/s × 8 bytes equals 19,200 MB/s (megabytes per second).
Compare that to the speed of my SSD. Using CrystalDiskMark, I measured its read speeds of ~6,700 MB/s and write speeds of ~6,200 MB/s. That's less than one-third of the speed.
Even with a high-end SSD, the speed difference between my RAM and storage drive is significant. My DDR4 RAM can hit 19,200 MB/s, while the SSD peaks at 6,700 MB/s. Virtual RAM on my PC will be slower, have higher latency, and be less responsive overall.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
There's also the problem of memory thrashing. Thrashing occurs when a computer spends more time moving data between the RAM and the storage

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- However, it comes with important caveats.
- Even with a high-end SSD, the speed difference between my RAM and storage drive is significant.
- A Windows and Mac expert weighs in A good example of a device that can benefit from virtual memory is the Acer Aspire Go 15 , a laptop we often recommend for its affordability.

### Areas for Consideration
- Also: The best all-in-one computers of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed Affordability remains a major problem, though there is a solution, albeit a limited one : virtual RAM.
- Jack Wallen/ZDNET There's also the problem of memory thrashing.

### Implications
- When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
- When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions.
- This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.
- If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers virtual, ram, memory topics. Notable strengths include discussion of virtual. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1672.